New IMLS Guidelines Echo Trump's Vision for American Culture

Artnet News

by Sarah Cascone

February 13, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has introduced new grant guidelines requiring applicants to align their projects with President Donald Trump’s vision for U.S. culture, marking a significant shift from previous non-political evaluations. The updated guidelines encourage museums and libraries to focus on "uplifting and positive narratives" of American history, echoing Trump's emphasis on classical architecture and efforts to control the content of historical exhibitions. This includes referencing Trump's executive orders, such as "Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again," which mandates classical design for government buildings, and "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," aimed at curating a specific narrative about U.S. history. The move has sparked concerns among cultural experts, who fear it could lead to censorship and the suppression of critical discussions about slavery, discrimination, and other uncomfortable aspects of American history. Marilyn Jackson, president and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums, previously warned that museums might be forced to abandon their role of presenting unvarnished historical truths under Trump’s administration. Giovanna Urist, a former senior program officer at IMLS, described the new guidelines as "chilling," suggesting they reflect an effort to control the voices of cultural institutions nationwide. The guidelines also signal a broader shift in federal support for culture. While IMLS grants are still available this year following legal battles that prevented their elimination by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), funding priorities have shifted. Grants for underserved communities have been reduced, and resources are now focused on celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S., reinforcing a more traditional and less inclusive narrative. This change underscores a potential narrowing of cultural discourse under Trump’s policies, which could exclude marginalized perspectives from public platforms. For those interested in art and culture, this development highlights the growing influence of politics on creative expression and historical interpretation. It raises questions about whether cultural institutions will continue to serve as unbiased custodians of history or become vehicles for propagating specific ideological agendas. The situation also underscores the ongoing tension between artistic freedom and political oversight, a debate that is likely to persist in the U.S. cultural landscape.

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Originally published on Artnet News on 2/13/2026